New research from Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has highlighted how multidisciplinary working and personalised care can help people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and treatment-resistant schizophrenia gain access to life-changing treatment, even in highly complex clinical circumstances.
Published in BMC Psychiatry, the peer-reviewed case report details how clinicians successfully supported a young person living with autism, schizophrenia and epilepsy to receive clozapine, widely regarded as the most effective treatment for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. The case demonstrates how specialist collaboration, careful planning and tailored care can help overcome significant clinical challenges.
The research was co-authored by Madelaine Bridges, who works within the trust's Research and Innovation team alongside her substantive role as a Community Matron.
Madelaine Bridges shared:
"I am proud to have contributed to this publication alongside my co-authors. This case highlights the complexities that can arise when neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions coexist, and the importance of looking beyond diagnoses to understand each person’s individual needs.
“The paper demonstrates the value of multidisciplinary working and the positive difference that can be achieved when clinicians, specialist services, patients and families work together to find the right treatment approach. I hope it will support continued learning across mental health services.”
The case focuses on a young person whose treatment pathway was complicated by a history of seizures, creating additional risks around the use of clozapine. The report also explores the challenges clinicians face when distinguishing between features of autism and symptoms of psychosis, an issue that can significantly influence diagnosis, assessment and treatment decisions.
Experts from the trust's Complex Psychosis Service worked closely with specialist pharmacy colleagues, an epilepsy centre, the patient and their family to develop a safe and effective treatment plan. Their collaborative approach enabled access to a treatment option that might otherwise have been considered too complex or high risk.
The findings provide an important example of how integrated working across disciplines can support better outcomes for people with some of the most complex mental health needs. They also reinforce the value of shared decision-making, ensuring patients and families remain central to care planning.
Professor Sukhi Shergill, Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust’s Director of Research and Innovation, said:
"This publication showcases the expertise and dedication of our staff and demonstrates how research can directly improve patient care. By sharing learning from complex cases, our teams are strengthening the evidence base for mental healthcare and helping clinicians across the NHS deliver safer, more personalised care for people with complex needs.”
The publication reflects Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust’s ongoing commitment to embedding research and innovation into frontline clinical practice. By supporting staff to take part in and publish research, the trust is helping to expand understanding of complex mental health conditions while contributing to improvements in patient care across the NHS.
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